Judith Johnson
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The Cruel Sea

14/1/2012

9 Comments

 
Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in the social history of war – of how those taking part are affected. Of course, as someone with my head regularly in history books, I need to remember that those in the services today are suffering, and I am aware that I should be giving the current situation due attention too. I was looking today at the photographs of soldiers from 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland serving in   Afghanistan taken by photographer Lalage Snow, who first met them during their training, and of her comments on how shocked she was to see the changes in them during and after their tour of duty. My husband has a photograph of his grandfather taken on his return from the Western Front at the end of the First World War –the deep lines between his eyebrows and the haunted look in his eyes are very telling.
 
I recently re-read Nicholas Monsarrat’s fictionalised account of his time serving on the Atlantic Convoys,
The Cruel Sea. My husband bought me the DVD of the film for Christmas, as well  as Western Approaches,written and  directed by Pat Jackson. We watched the former, and it has certainly stood the test of time. Like others my age, as a child I spent many a Sunday afternoon watching the old black and white war films. Jack Hawkins is marvellous in the lead role, supported by a fantastic cast of British stalwarts.
 
I was prompted to put the film on my Amazon Wish-List (currently 54 items!) by a visit to the National Maritime Museum on 19 November last year to a small exhibition about the Arctic Convoys, mounted to mark the 70th Anniversary of the first Allied convoy to Russia during the Second World War. The convoys carried vital supplies to the Soviet Union – more than 4 million tons of supplies including tanks, fighter planes, fuel, ammunition, raw materials and food. We had heard about this on PM on Radio 4, when Eddie Mair had interviewed a wonderful gentleman, Edward Cordery, who had served on HMS Belfast, signing up at the age of 17. A number of veterans were, we were told, travelling to the Museum on that day to meet members of the public.  We made sure we got there, as we felt this was an unmissable opportunity to meet, listen to, thank and shake the hands of these men. We also informed Phil Winter, the son of Bill Winter, who died on the Convoys and is included in my book
Southborough War Memorial, and he travelled up with his son.
 
We felt moved and honoured to meet these courteous and humble, now elderly men, and so grateful for the chance to do so. These included Edward Cordery, Robert Sutton (HMS Berwick), Mr Micklewhite (3 years’ service on HMS Belfast, and who had travelled down from Liverpool for the day), Mr Webb from Bournemouth, and Charles, who lives in Greenwich, now 86 years old, and who had come along to see the exhibition, having himself served in the Pacific.
 
Needless to say, this is not a hymn to the so-called glory of war. Harry Patch, the WW1 veteran, memorably said that in his opinion war was murder, nothing else.
 
I continue to add information on my SWM Extra page about the war casualties of Southborough, and have begun a new page for those who did not die, but were injured.

For further details of the Arctic Convoys, here are two excellent BBC links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/categories/c55648/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8585000/8585492.stm

9 Comments
Stacey Blythe link
30/8/2012 06:51:43 pm

hi judy,
so amazing that you met edward cordery..(arctic convoy story)
i heard that interview too (i am a composer,songwriter) was so moved i wrote a song out in full about him when i arrived at my destination (i heard it in the car) and have recorded it.. it's called lucky man..(in the process of registering the copywrite)
..... it really wrote itself...straight out of my memory of him speaking as i was driving...straight through my fingers and onto the page...his words and voice were so clear and the images so bright...
brilliant that you did that book - well done
best wishes
stacey

Reply
Judith Johnson link
1/9/2012 12:36:30 am

Thank you so much for your kind comments, Stacey, much appreciated! When I met him, Mr Cordery took my hand and smiled, looked me in the eye and told me to enjoy every single day, as much as I could. A wonderful man. I have enjoyed your website www.staceyblythe.com and look forward to hearing the song!

Reply
Samuel Cordery
20/12/2012 04:13:19 am

Hi Both - this is Samuel Cordery, Edward's Grandson. I have both recordings of Pops' radio interviews with Eddie Mair. If you wish I'll share the YouTube links. Stacey - would love to hear your lyrics!.......Samuel

Reply
Judith Johnson link
21/12/2012 08:13:17 pm

Wow! How wonderful to hear from you Samuel! That has really made my day today, and it is one of the great joys of having internet comms, to hear from people out of the blue. Please give your grandfather my very warmest wishes, and yes please - it would be great if you could share the Youtube links here so people can hear him speaking.

Reply
Samuel Cordery
22/12/2012 05:45:19 am

Here you go Judith. Two links, one is the full interview with Eddie Mair and the second is the 'Pick of the Week' broadcast. I'm seeing Pops tomorrow so will pass on your wishes......Samuel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr7Y3zxHPuk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCCf4fRYqBg

Stephen Andrews
22/10/2018 07:41:16 am

Hi Edward, I hope you do not mind me contacting you out of the blue, but I met your Grandfather on a train into London on Saturday - he was on his way to an annual reunion on HMS Belfast. I would love to have a link to the Eddie Mair interviews if possible, as we had a great conversation about his time on the Artic Convoy and I would like to know more about his wonderful service and life. Best wishes, Stephen Andrews

Reply
Stephen Andrews
22/10/2018 07:47:16 am

Sorry Samuel, Just seen the link! Listening now.

Reply
Samuel Cordery
22/10/2018 11:11:12 am

Hello Stephen - glad you found the links above, and thank you for taking the time to speak my Grandfather Ted

A couple of years ago he spent many many hours speaking to a reporter from the Imperial War Museum, archiving his memories. I am yet unable to find these recordings but when I do I will ensure I post them hear on Judith's blog

All the best....Samuel

Reply
Judith Johnson link
22/10/2018 11:41:50 am

Hi Samuel and Stephen - great to see your comments, and delighted that Edward is still going strong. Also good to remind myself of his excellent advice to enjoy every single day, as much as I could. Thanks again, Edward and comrades.

Reply



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    Lifelong bookworm, love writing too. Have been a theatrical agent and reflexologist among other things, attitude to life summed up by Walt Whitman's MIRACLES.

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